Bangladesh National Zoo

Overall, the amenities were good and everything we needed was provided. We also appreciated the traditional Bangladeshi style, including the solid timber furniture. The décor being older is not an issue in itself and gives the hotel character. However, cleanliness and maintenance were below what I would expect from a 5-star hotel. The minibar, shower screen, bathroom door, and areas of wallpaper were stained, yet appeared to simply need a proper clean. The bathroom could be significantly improved by removing and replacing the old silicone, which was missing, loose and discoloured in places, making the whole bathroom appear tired and dirty. The toilet was an older design where the water rises considerably when flushed, which is unpleasant to watch, and the flush was incredibly loud – loud enough to hear neighbouring rooms and wake us at night. The toilet-roll holder was awkwardly positioned behind you and the bidet hose was unnecessarily long, rubbing against the vanity and making noise. The hairdryer was a very old, flimsy 1970s-style model and was falling apart. The minibar door was cracked but worked, and the older air-conditioning was quite loud, so we had to use it on low to sleep. Our room card also failed a couple of times. Both the breakfast and evening buffets were excellent with a great selection. My only disappointment was being served a local Diet Coke but charged around 1,000 BDT, closer to an imported-drink price.